Misogyny to be labelled as extremism in the UK as Labour ramp up national security review

By Charlie Sawyer

Published Aug 20, 2024 at 01:19 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

60932

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has officially announced new government plans to declare misogyny as a form of extremism in the UK, pledging to crack down on harmful ideologies that spread hate targeted towards women.

According to the BBC, Cooper explained that there has been a noticeable and considerable rise in extremism “both online and on our streets” that “frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”

This extremism strategy, due to be reviewed later this year, will also look at the rise in far-right extremism and nationalism across the UK, all recently culminating in the violent riots that took place at the end of July and the beginning of August. Spearheaded primarily by associates of the English Defence League (EDL), these acts of domestic terrorism put a spotlight on how widespread extremism in the UK truly is.

One of the primary goals of the review will be to map out exactly how these online organisations and groups target, recruit, and radicalise young people. The Home Secretary also stated that the review would “identify any gaps in existing policy which need to be addressed to crack down on those pushing harmful and hateful beliefs and violence.”

One of the biggest aspects of Labour’s 2024 manifesto revolved around national security, and specifically, they committed to conducting a Strategic Defence Review if brought to power. This review has promised to “take the approach used for dealing with non-state terrorism and adapt it to deal with state-based domestic security threats.”

Misogyny is now permeating every corner of social media and resulting in very real-life violence and retribution against women. For example, incel culture has been proven to be a driving force behind mass shootings.

As exemplified in a 2023 article that looked at the role that incelism and misogyny played in the 2014 Isla Vista shooting, writer Rachel Fugardi wrote: “Efforts to understand misogynist incels often fail to connect their male supremacist ideology with the everyday misogyny that permeates society. Beyond the mass attacks that capture headlines, this ideology manifests itself in everyday acts of gender-based violence that often go unnoticed. Similarly, legislative efforts to restrict reproductive rights, prevent individuals from accessing gender-affirming care, criminalise drag performances and end no-fault divorce all reflect this culture.”

In July, it was reported that police chiefs in the UK had admitted that violence against women and girls was a “national emergency” and a threat on the same scale as terrorism. If this doesn’t call for an extensive review, I don’t know what will.

The manosphere and male supremacist sect are threats the government has to take seriously and assess appropriately.

Keep On Reading

By Kate Fines

Incelism: the subculture that hates women

By Charlie Sawyer

How the EDL is using extremist influencers to fuel misinformation and violence across the UK

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Australian erotic novelist charged with child abuse material offenses after backlash over latest book

By Eliza Frost

Kylie Jenner now follows Timothée Chalamet on Instagram, but he doesn’t follow her back

By Abby Amoakuh

Chappell Roan faces backlash from TikTok moms for likening motherhood to hell

By Abby Amoakuh

TikToker who started the NYC influencers are boring trend fired from her job for the viral video

By Charlie Sawyer

Why Sabrina Carpenter’s sexuality is praised and Lola Young’s is picked apart

By Eliza Frost

Do artists really owe us surprise guests at gigs, or are our expectations out of control?

By Charlie Sawyer

Gavin Casalegno cancelled? The Summer I Turned Pretty fans turn on him amid cast drama

By Charlie Sawyer

Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto accused of sexual assault in viral TikTok

By Charlie Sawyer

22-year-old groom arrested after police find 9-year-old bride at staged Disneyland wedding

By Charlie Sawyer

Another female influencer has been punched in the head in New York. Is it the same attacker?

By Eliza Frost

Why is Taylor not Team Conrad in The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Belgian court lets convicted rapist go free so he can become a gynaecologist

By Charlie Sawyer

Father of former Harry Potter star gives serious warning to the new child stars in HBO Max reboot

By Charlie Sawyer

Chappell Roan cancelled yet again for saying she can’t be expected to be politically educated all the time

By Eliza Frost

Netflix’s new Trainwreck documentary exposes the rise and scandalous fall of American Apparel

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Are Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins feuding? Fans freak out after The White Lotus co-stars unfollow each other

By Charlie Sawyer

Fans express concern after Harry Potter TV series announces the casting of Harry, Ron, and Hermione

By Charlie Sawyer

Harry Potter star defends Tom Felton over his controversial comments on JK Rowling’s transphobia